Latest news with #BuddyChoat
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Alan Taylor withdraws from Trussville City Council race
TRUSSVILLE, Ala. (Trussville Tribune) — City Councilman Alan Taylor has withdrawn from the Trussville City Council race, according to an announcement sent to the Tribune and shared on social media. He was the most experienced candidate in the race with 13 years of service to the city. 'After much prayerful consideration, I have decided not to seek reelection to the Trussville City Council,' Taylor said. 'It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve this community over the past 13 years.' Taylor had originally not planned to seek re-election for a fourth term. But with the loss of an experienced mayor in Buddy Choat and longserving City Councilor Perry Cook, many people in the community urged him to seek one more term and he relented. With more time to reflect, he decided it was time to step away. 'This decision did not come easily,' he said. 'However, I believe this is the right time for me to step back and focus on other priorities. Some of my grandchildren live out of state, and I want to spend more time with them. Family is a gift, and I intend to be more present in their lives. In addition, I remain committed to serving at First Baptist Church Trussville as we move forward with our new building project. This is an exciting time for our church, and I want to be fully available to help see it through.' Trussville moves closer to implementing garbage fees, council discusses ways to alleviate costs Taylor reflected on the accomplishments of the city during his tenure which included creating a downtown where empty and dilapidated buildings once stood. Trussville residents had longed for a vibrant downtown area with flourishing business, restaurants and activities. After decades of promises and disappointments, the Trussville Entertainment District became a reality in Taylor's second term on city council and Choat's first term as mayor. 'I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together, particularly the tremendous growth of our city and the continued success of our schools,' he said. 'Trussville has become a place where families thrive, and I am deeply grateful to have played a small part in helping shape its future. It has also been a true honor to work alongside Mayor Buddy Choat and my fellow members of the City Council.' While it is challenging to work through differences of opinion to reach a consensus, it was an aspect of serving that Taylor enjoyed. 'We may not have always agreed on every issue, but we have always shared a common goal: to do what is best for the people of Trussville,' he said. Taylor expressed gratitude for for the city workers who he called 'dedicated and hardworking.' He expressed gratitude to the people of Trussville and said, 'Thank you for the opportunity to serve, for your trust, and for your partnership over the years. I will always be an advocate for this city and the wonderful people who call it home.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trussville City Council to consider selling Glendale Farms
The following article is by Chris Basinger, news editor of the Trussville Tribune: TRUSSVILLE, Ala. (Trussville Tribune) — The Trussville City Council is expected to consider selling the Glendale Farms property during its next meeting on Thursday, May 15. Originally intended to serve as the home of Trussville's fourth elementary school, the future of the site has been uncertain following last year's failed property tax increase. Without the additional funding for all of the school expansion projects, Trussville City Schools has had to prioritize the construction of the C-Wing at Hewitt-Trussville High School as it faces 104% capacity. During today's council work session, Mayor Buddy Choat spoke on the proposed sale, saying the city currently has an offer on the table to sell all 230 acres of the property. 'There's really no reason to hold onto it for the school now with the uncertainty of exactly where all the new homes that may be built and where that new school might need to be,' Choat said. He added that he had spoken to Superintendent Dr. Patrick Martin as well as Jefferson State, which also had plans for a facility on the site, and that they were both ok with the sale. Longtime Arkestra member Marshall Allen sitting out Sun Ra Festival in Birmingham The city purchased the property in 2022 for just under $4 million. Following the failed vote, the mayor spoke with multiple potential buyers about the sale of part or all of the property. The potential buyer is now requesting that the plot be rezoned from Industrial-2 to Agriculture-1, which has to go before Planning & Zoning, and reportedly intends to use the property as a farm. Choat added that though the offer is not yet completely official, as the zoning would have to be changed and it would have to be approved, they would recoup the cost of what the city paid for it if it went through. If the sale is finalized, the city would have to find a new site for a future elementary school as Trussville continues to grow and overcrowding in the schools gets worse. 'We have time, you know, it's gonna take years to build out all of these but the city's got to keep moving and find a location somewhere so we're actively pursuing it,' Choat said. Choat added that he hates to have to sell the property, but that it is 'the right thing to do.' 'It's just the best thing for the city right now,' he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
